I hate to admit this, but did I miss
something in the discussion of FDAs new over the counter drugs (OTC).
Thank goodness, one doctor kept things in perspective and really
exposed the true purpose. Most of us were looking at the
advisability of doing this and the dangers in people self-prescribing
drugs and the problems this would cause. This is still a valid
concern, but pales in comparison to what this doctor exposes.
Dr. Matthew Mintz in his blog Dr.
Mintz' Blog blows the lid off and does state the obvious quite well
in fact. We as patients should be afraid and if this goes through,
our costs for medications will go through the proverbial roof and
keep on going up. Dr. Mintz points to the fact that insurance will
no longer cover a drug that becomes OTC. Therefore, if you only had
a small copay, now the cost will be 100 percent. Take time to read his blog.
This is the technique of the current
administration to reduce medical costs, but not for the consumer. By
not having to see a doctor to get your prescription, that is the
first cost savings for both the insurance companies and
Medicare/Medicaid. It will be less costly to pay a pharmacist to
advise you which may be the best medicine, but the entire cost will
be on you. If the medication is normally $100 for a 30-day supply of
pills, that is what you will pay to get the medication. Currently
you might have a 20 percent copay and $80 would be covered by
insurance.
The interesting fact is that many
branded blood pressure, asthma, cholesterol, and diabetes medications
will not be any cheaper just because the become over the counter
medications. It is just that you, as the consumer will now pay the
entire amount like the people without insurance. The insurance
companies will not cover over the counter medications so this is one
cost they will not have to be responsible for.
The government carefully kept this out
of the press and is moving faster than the FDA normally does to slide
this through. So be prepared and afraid for your pocket book in the
near future if this does get the final approval. Most medical
professions did not comment on this at all and the pharmacists were
in favor of this action. The patients were not represented and we
will be the ones paying the higher medication costs. The government
will proclaim how they have been able to cut medical costs and expect
you to vote for them in November.
You may not be able to vote if you
spend all your money for over the counter medications and have
nothing left for the high cost of fuel to get you to the voting
booth. Go ahead and laugh, but come November, this may be what
happened. This is what the current administration is counting on.
What I find amusing is the proposed use
of kiosks. "For example, kiosks or other technological aids
in pharmacies or on the Internet could lead consumers through an
algorithm for a particular drug product."
“Can you just imagine patients
going up to an ATM-like machine, entering their conditions,
allergies, blood levels, etc. and having the computer spit out
exactly what dose of what medicine that they should be taking for
their high blood pressure or high cholesterol? Would there be a
soda-like machine right beside it that could dispense the appropriate
medication?”
If you think pharmacies are crowded now
with very little privacy, what will a bank of kiosks do for the
space. There will be kids wanting to punch buttons just for the fun
of it. With all this more, how long will the electronics be
functioning? This is one place I will want to avoid if at all
possible.
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